Author: Teacher

Hollybrook Academy
Newsletter
Easter 2014

Message from the Head Teacher

Guten Morgen Unna! Comenius Trip 2014

After a fantastically busy and productive term, we have reached the holidays. Next term is Hollybrook’s celebration of the Commonwealth Games coming to Glasgow. More details of this will follow after the holidays, but safe to say we have an exciting couple of months ahead!
May I wish you all an enjoyable Spring Break.
Jackie Newell

Scribbles by Hollybrook

All S3 Business and IT pupils were recently given the challenge of creating a Social Enterprise company. Pupils were expected to produce a plan for their product or service.
They were then invited to Glasgow City Chambers to present their idea to a panel of judges in a Dragon's Den challenge. Hollybrook competed against other schools from across Glasgow for a cash prize. Our pupils presented their idea to the Dragons in front of hundreds of people. They were judged on how good their idea was as well as how well they presented. After many very professional presentations, the pupils of Hollybrook walked away with a prize and a cheque for £50. This money will help to fund Scribbles by Hollybrook, Glasgow’s latest art dealership.

As part of our ongoing Comenius school partnership with Märkisches Berufskolleg Unna, ten S5/6 pupils visited Dortmund and Unna in Germany for two weeks in February. In line with the project title "Glasgow and Unna under the microscope: sports and youth activities in different cultures" pupils had the opportunity to experience college life in Germany and together with their partners take part in a range of cross cultural learning and sports activities. Beside curling, ice skating and orienteering, pupils took on new challenges such as rock climbing, learning how to play handball and mastering the art of baking German “Brötchen”.

Hollybrook Chicks

“Living Eggs” were delivered on the 3rd March – we were given 10 eggs and we watched to see if the eggs would hatch. In the S3/4 parents night we saw the first pip of the first egg. The 8 chicks were born the next day. Pupils were highly engaged with the chicks for the whole of the two weeks. The enthusiasm and involvement in lessons was a delight to see and the project stimulated great discussion and questioning from all the pupils involved.
The hands-on aspect of the project gave the pupils the chance to take an active part in all lessons and allowed pupils to develop their confidence.

Water Bottle
Competition

As part of Health Promotion in Hollybrook the pupil council ran a whole school ‘design a water bottle’ competition. The south sector Health and Wellbeing fund awarded us a grant which has allowed us to give every pupil and adult in the school a free water bottle to encourage healthy drinking throughout the day. This will keep our brains hydrated and have a positive impact on learning and teaching. The winning design, by Sarah Naveed (s5) (pictured). 2nd place was Michael Gallagher (S1) and 3rd place was Gemma Costello (S3).

S3 Social Studies visited the Scottish Parliament as part of their learning about democracy and decision making in Scotland. The group enjoyed a workshop about voting before a tour of the building that included the debating chamber where the MSP’s decide on new laws for Scotland.
We took 14 pupils to the Scottish Disability National Cross Country Event. All pupils ran an amazing race with 4 pupil winning medals. Nathan Haddow won gold in the S3 1km race. Lee Williams won silver in the S5 1km Race. David Ferguson won bronze in the S4 2km race and Declan McNaughton won bronze in the S4/5/6 3km race.

Scottish Parliament

Cross Country

PSE

This term in PSE we have had quite a few visits from a variety of speakers to reinforce the message of keeping yourself safe. S1 visited Pollok Fire safety centre and also had visit from the oral health educator. Our S4 pupils have had visits from the Police, Childline and also Glasgow Council on alcohol and some of our S5/6 pupils have visited the Sandyford Clinic to raise awareness of this as a possible service for the future. Next term Our S2 pupils will be having a talk from the police regarding behaviour in the local community and S3 pupils will be having a visit from Glasgow Council on Alcohol to discuss the consequences of Gang violence.

Water Aid

S4 are working towards new qualifications as part of the Curriculum for Excellence. As this is the 1st year the qualifications have been delivered, the qualifications authority, the SQA, have been looking at our work as part of a National Verification process. The qualifications run in Hollybrook Academy have all been approved and departments have been commended for areas of good practice. S5 and S6 pupils have undertaken Prelim exams in English, Maths and Administration. We wish them good luck for the final exams which begin at the end of April.

Congratulations to pupils and staff who completed the sponsored walk around Pollok Park, Glasgow on Monday 24th March. To date, we have raised approximately £850.All money raised will go to Water Aid. Water Aid is a charity that is dedicated to helping people escape the poverty and disease caused by living without safe water and sanitation.

Learning and Teaching

This is a reminder that school reopens on Tuesday 22nd April.